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Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Ephesians 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me,
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Alleluia : See Luke 19:38; 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

 Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a powerful and urgent truth:
The Christian life is a spiritual battle — but God equips us with everything we need to stand firm, persevere, and remain faithful. And even when the world resists God’s love, Christ continues His mission with courage and compassion.
• Paul teaches us to fight with spiritual armor, not human strength.
• The psalm reminds us that God is our defender and trainer.
• Jesus shows unwavering courage and tender longing for His people.
The message is clear: Stand firm. Stay faithful. Trust God’s strength. Christ walks with you.

 Reflection for the Day

1. “Put on the armor of God.” (Ephesians 6)
   Paul does not say “be strong.” He says:
   “Draw your strength from the Lord.”
   Our battle is not against people, but against spiritual forces that seek to discourage, divide, and destroy.
   So God gives us armor:
   • Truth — clarity in confusion
   • Righteousness — integrity in temptation
   • Gospel readiness — peace in chaos
   • Faith — protection from lies and fear
   • Salvation — confidence in God’s victory
   • The Word — our spiritual sword
   • Prayer — our constant lifeline
   This is not poetic imagery — it is a daily strategy for spiritual resilience.
2. “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock.” (Psalm 144)
   The psalmist sees God as:
   • rock,
   • fortress,
   • shield,
   • deliverer,
   • trainer for battle.
   This means God does not only protect us — He prepares us.
   He strengthens our hands, steadies our hearts, and equips us for the challenges ahead.
3. “I must continue on my way.” (Luke 13)
   Jesus receives a warning: “Herod wants to kill you.”
   But He does not retreat. He does not panic. He does not abandon His mission.
   He continues healing, delivering, and teaching.
   Then He laments:
   “Jerusalem… how many times I yearned to gather your children together.”
   This is the heart of Christ:
   • courageous in mission,
   • tender in love,
   • grieving over rejection,
   • longing to gather His people close.
   Even when we resist Him, He continues to pursue us with compassion.

Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Put on your spiritual armor.
   Begin your day with truth, faith, prayer, and the Word.
2. Trust God as your rock.
   Let Him train your hands and strengthen your spirit.
3. Continue your mission with courage.
   Like Jesus, do not let fear, threats, or discouragement stop you from doing good.
   Let today be a day of strength, courage, and spiritual clarity.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, clothe me in Your armor today. Give me truth to guide me, faith to shield me, and Your Word to strengthen me.
Be my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. Train my heart for the battles I face and fill me with courage to continue Your mission.
Gather me under Your wings and keep me faithful in every challenge.
Amen.